How to Select a Beauty College near Clayton Kansas
Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Clayton KS, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Clayton residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Clayton KS beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two options available to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Clayton KS business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.
Online Beauty Schools
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Clayton KS students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Clayton KS home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 67629 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Clayton KS businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetologist institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Clayton KS salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Kansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Clayton KS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s crucial that he or she receives aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Clayton KS employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial help may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Clayton KS?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Clayton KS area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Clayton, Kansas
Clayton is located at 39°44′14″N 100°10′37″W / 39.73722°N 100.17694°W / 39.73722; -100.17694 (39.737247, -100.176818).[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.43 square miles (1.11 km2), all land.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 59 people, 23 households, and 19 families residing in the city. The population density was 137.2 inhabitants per square mile (53.0/km2). There were 34 housing units at an average density of 79.1 per square mile (30.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White and 3.4% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 23 households of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 13.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 17.4% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.74.
Enroll in the Right Cosmetology School near Clayton KS
Locating and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Clayton KS.
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